Flexible hose



:United States Patent O 3,189,053 FLEXIBLE HOSE Russell Dale Parr, Carlisle, Pa., assignor to Carlisle Tire and Rubber Division of Carlisle Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Filed May 25, 1962, Ser. No. 198,692

6 Claims. (Cl. 13S-133) The present invention relates to flexible hose and is more particularly concerned with an improvement in such hose as well as methods for producing the same.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a non-collapsible flexible hose suitable for conveying liquids such as water, chemicals and the like under pressure or not as desired without .blowing out or collapsing and which hose has a smooth bore wall and forms arcs of curves when exed which provides a minimum of resistance to the flow of liquids therethrough.

A further and important object of the invention is to provide an economically producible wire reinforced hose containing continuous `wire coils up to the ends of the hose and which hose can be readily cut into desired lengths thereof for any specific application with the wire reinforcement extending upV-to the ends of the severed lengths of hose. t

Another and equally important object of the invention is-to provide a wire reinforcedhose that can be quickly and easily produced in long lengths of .the same internal and external diameter and which can be readily modified in construction to producev hoses of various degrees of flexibility, resistance to internal pressures and resistance to collapsing.

Further objects of the invention will be in part obvious and in part pointed out in the following-description of the accompanying drawings, in which:`

FIGURE 1 is a perspective 4view of a mandrel with the base tube of the present hose thereon in an initial step in the production of the hose.

FIGURE 2 is a similar perspective view, but showing the encircling of the wire reinforcement on the base tube in a further step in the production ofthe hose.

FIGURE 3 is also a perspectiveview similar to FIG- URE 1, but showing the completion of the encirclement of wire reinforcement on the base tube and the wrapping of a tape over said wire reinforcement.

FIGURE 4 is a perspectiveV view of the present hose while being coated and the withdrawal ofthe mandrel.

And FIGURE 5 is a perspective view,V reduced size, of the completed hose.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawing wherein like and corresponding parts are designated by similar reference characters, numeral 1 indicates a mandrel suitable for being mounted upon means for rotating the same such as a conventional lathe (not shown) for being rotated thereby or upon clamping means such as a vise (not shown) for being held stationary. The outside diameter of the mandrel determines the inside diameter of the present hose and is accordingly chosen for this purpose.

A tube 2 of an elastomer that will vulcanize such as, for example, synthetic rubbers known in the trade as butyl, neoprene, Hycar, SBR or Koroseal provides the base tube of the hose. The radial thickness 3 of the tube can be varied depending upon the end use of the hose and the length of the hose between ends 4 and 5 also can be varied so that the entire hose can be used in one application or severed into desired lengths thereof with each length to be used for a separate purpose. Said tube further has a smooth walled bore 6 extending the length thereof with mandrel 1 extending therethrough with the diameter of said bore being substantially the same as the 3,189,053 Patented .lune 15, 1965 ICC peripheral diameter of said mandrel whereupon said tube will rotate or remain Xed with said mandrel during the production of the hose.

A non-collapsible reinforcing filament such as a metallic wire 7 preferably of a spring steel, is wound upon base tube 1 in helical convolutions 8 from end 5 to end 4 or vice versa of said tube. Said wire may be wound either upon the peripheral surface of said tube so that the inner diameter of the wire coil'is the -same as the periphery of the tube or may be slightly imbedded into said tube with the inner coil diameter being slightly less than the periphery of said tube resulting in slightly bulged peripheral portions 8 of said tube between the turns of said wire. The winding of wire 7 on said tube can be effected by rotating mandrel 1 and feeding wire 7 to the rotating tube while holding the initial turn of the wire fixed or mandrel 1 can be held xed and wire 7 fed from a head (not shown) rotating around and moving along the length of said tube or inserting tubev 1 into a coil Vof said wire and drawing the coil ends. The proper amount of tension is applied to said wire when being applied to formrthe finished coil thereof with a diameter corresponding to that of the finished hose as desired. The convolutions of said wire can be varied as to the spacings therebetween depending upon the flexibility or stiffness in the finished hose desired.

A tape 11 of either cord or square woven fabric con taining cords of or including nylon or Daeron is wrapped around and over said wire convolutions 8 with edges 12 and 14 of said tape abutting or slightly overlapping with each turn providing helical convolutions 13 of said tape wound in the same direction as wire 7, but may be wound in the opposite direction `to said wire.l

Said tape is coated upon both sides with an elastomer that will vulcanize compatible with tube 2. The construction of the cord or square woven fabric can `be varied to give the required strength or the degree of stability desired in the hose and if square woven fabric is used, it must be cut so that the cords thereof in one direction are continuous or react in a similar-manner.

The wrapping of the tape 11 can be effected in the same manner as described for afixing wire 7.

Vulcanizing the assembled tube 2 and tape ll-aflixing the sametogether causes the tape 11 to shrink due to heat, chemicals or physical reaction, supplying an inte-l grated pressure sufficient to bring the layers of tapes 11 into a composite union with tube 2 such that they will Y vulcanize or otherwise fuse wtih tube 2.

If it is desired to adhere wire 7 to said tube and tape, it is necessary to clean the wire with an acid and in some instances coat the same with an elastomer compatible with said tube prior to assembly. For example, if tube 2 is neoprene the wire can be coated with thixon. However, adhesion of the wire to tube and tape is not essential.

After vulcanization or heat forming of the hose, a coating 16 of Hypolon, Koroseal or Korlac or other material that will adhere to the hose is applied, forexample, by a nozzle 17 to the outside and a coating 15 to the bore wall of the hose to increase resistance to oil and grease and improve the appearance of the hose after withdrawal of mandrel 1.

Tube 2 may consist of a thermo-plastic material such as polyethylene, vinyl, Seran or the like, for example in lieu of an elastomer. Likewise, tape 11 may be formed of a non-shrinking cord or fabric. After assembly of tube 2, wire 7 and tape 11 of the non-shrinking material a wet wrap such as cotton goods soaked in water is applied over the mounted tape and heat applied whereupon a shrinking of the Wet wrap compresses the layers of the hose until set whereupon the wrap is removed. However, the use of nylon or Daeron cord fabrics is preferred as the shrinkage continues giving a stronger compression, while the wet wrap only gives a slight shrinkage during the application thereof.

As an example of a method of making hose in accordance with the present invention, a tubular steel mandrel 1 of three and a half feet long and one and a half inches peripheral diameter can be used. A tube 2 of butyl rubber having an inside diameter of one and a half inches and a radial thickness 3 of three-eights of an inch can have said mandrel inserted in bore 6 and the mandrel mounted on a lathe for being rotated thereby. A wire 7 of one-sixteenth inch thickness is retained at one end adjacent end of tube 2 and fed to the rotating tube so that the Wire has three turns per inch along the length of said tube completely up to the end 4 of said tube.

Thereafter a tape 11 of a nylon cord fabric coated on both sides with butyl, two inches Wide and having 18 cords per inch has one end held xed adjacent tube end 5 and fed to the rotating tube over wire 7 in the same direction as said wire so that side 14 slightly overlaps side 12 as the tape is wrapped around said tube and wires for the length of said tube up to end 4.

Thereafter the assembly of tube 2, wire 7 and tape 11 is subjected to vulcanizing heat, shrinking the nylon cords and vulcanizing tape 11 to tube 2. A coating 16 of Korlac is applied to the exterior of the resulting hose, mandrel 1 withdrawn therefrom and a similar coating 15 of Korlac is applied to bore wall 6 completing the hose 1S.

Whereas one ply of tape 11 has been referred to, additional plies thereof can be applied in like or different directions to said tube to increase the resistance of the hose to internal pressures. Also a tape or tapes 11 having more nylon threads can be used, as for example, forty cords per inch with two plies will retain pressure Within the hose up to 560 pounds per square inch.

The resulting hose 18 is suitable for use in conveying liquids and semi-liquids therethrough, is water tight, ilexible in that it can be bent in one or a plurality of directions, is non-collapsible due to the support of tape 11 as well as wire 7 and is resistant to the effect of contaminated waters, acids, petroleum products, anti-freezes including glycerin, glycol, alcohol and the like as well as most other liquids.

The invention is capable of modification and such changes thereto as come Within the scope of the appended claims is deemed to be a part of the invention.

I claim:

1. An improvement in flexible hose comprising a tube of a vulcanizable elastomer, a non-collapsible reinforcing lament coiled around the periphery of said tube with spaced apart coils exposing portions of said tube periphery therebetween and a tape including synthetic ber cords 1 and coated with a vulcanizable elastomer being wrapped on and around said filament coil and the exposed peripheral portions of said tube and vulcanized to said tube exposed peripheral portions along most of the space between said coils with said tape drawn tight thereon by said cords.

2. An improvement in flexible hose comprising an elongated tube of a vulcanizable elastomer, a metal wire extending in spaced helical convolutions around and imbedded in the periphery of said tube for the entire length of said tube leaving portions of said tube periphery exposed between said convolutions and a tape having heat shrinkable cards and coated with a heat fusible material being wrapped on and around said wire and said tube exposed periphery for the length thereof with said tape drawn tight thereon by said cords whereby said tape is drawn tightly against said Wire and said tube exposed peripheral portions by said cords, said tape being fused to said tube exposed peripheral portions along most of the space between said wire convolutions and said cords being in a shrinking condition drawing said tape tight.

3. An improvement in flexible hose as claimed in claim 2 wherein said tape heat shrinkable cords include a synthetic liber throughout the same.

4. An improvement in `flexible hose as claimed in claim 2 wherein said tape heat shinkable cords include nylon and extend throughout said tape.

5. An improvement in flexible hose as claimed in claim 2 wherein said tape heat shrinkable cords include Daeron and extend throughout said tape.

6. An improvement in flexible hose as claimed in claim 2 wherein said tape is of a square woven fabric with the treads thereof including said cords throughout the same.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,035,914 3/36 Olsen 156-195 2,171,764 9/39 Ramsdell 156-195 2,630,157 3/ 53 Smellie. 2,652,093 9/53 Burton. 2,713,383 7/55 Kennedy 138-150 X 2,741,267 4/56 McKinley 138-133 2,913,011 11/59 Noyes et al. 138-133 3,018,800 1/62 Hanssens 13S-125 3,044,497 7/ 62 Rebut 138-121 FOREIGN PATENTS 157,203 6/54 Australia. 208,890 4/ 5 7 Australia.

LEWIS I. LENNY, Primary Examiner. EDWARD V. BENHAM, Examiner. 

1. AN IMPROVEMENT IN FLEXIBLE HOSE COMPRISING A TUBE OF VULCANIZABLE ELASTOMER, A NON-COLLAPSIBLE REINFORCING FILAMENT COILED AROUND THE PERIPHERY OF SAID TUBE WITH SPACED APART COILS EXPOSING PORTIONS OF SAID TUBE PERIPHERY THEREBETWEEN AND A TAPE INCLUDING A SYNTHETIC FIBER CORDS AND COATED WITH A VULCANIZABLE ELASTOMER BEING WRAPPED ON AND AROUND SAID FILAMENT COIL AND THE EXPOSED PERIPHERAL PORTION OF SAID TUBE AND VULCANIZED TO SAID TUBE EXPOSED PERIPHERAL PORTIONS ALONG MOST OF THE SPACE BETWEEN SAID COILS WITH SAID TAPE DRAWN TIGHT THEREON BY SAID CORDS. 